DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 1996 HOUSE REPORT

104TH CONGRESS, 1ST Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT 104-177

REPORT together with ADDITION VIEWS [To accompany H.R. 2002]

The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996.

Loran-C - The Committee has indicated to the FAA in past years that the agency should take full advantage of the compatibility of Loran with GPS technology so the substantial investment made by users in the technology can continue to be utilized, and so Loran can be used as a cost effective alternative system to GPS. The Committee has also heard from every segment of the Loran user community, and there is broad consensus to continue support and funding for Loran, until it is determined that satellite technology is available and reliable as a sole means of safe and efficient air navigation. The Loran system is established, operationally proven, reliable and cost effective. The Committee understands there are currently more then 1.3 million users of Loran, and that total system infrastructure operation and maintenance costs are approximately $17,000,000 annually. In view of the favorable benefits versus costs associated with Loran, and because of the substantial enhancement it provides to user safety, the Committee remains convinced that the Federal Government and users can benefit from the technology well into the next century.

The Committee last year indicated to the FAA that it might be necessary for the agency to assume increased funding responsibility for Loran-C/GPS related initiatives in conjunction with other elements of DOT. The Committee believes that some funding responsibility for Loran should be transferred to the FAA. Therefore, the Committee directs the FAA to provide a plan, within 120 days of enactment of this bill, for future funding, upgrading, and support for Loran in cooperation with other elements of DOT. Moreover, the FAA is directed to expedite implementation of the automatic blink system, and the agency should fully support actions to permit promulgation of Loran non-precision approaches for which funds have been previously approved. The FAA is also urged to continue developing GPS approaches which are compatible with Loran technology, so that full benefit can be gained from both technologies.